What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the soft tissues of the mouth and the underlying jawbone which supports the teeth. A dentist must first graduate from an accredited dental school before undertaking an additional three years of study within a periodontology residency training program, in order to qualify as a periodontist.

The primary focus of this residency training is on both surgical and non surgical management of periodontal disease and the placement of dental implants.

Conditions Treated by a Periodontist

The periodontist is mainly concerned with preventing the onset of gum disease (periodontal disease), diagnosing conditions affecting the gums and jawbone, and treating gingivitis, periodontitis and bone loss. Periodontal disease is a progressive condition and the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the developed world.

The periodontist is able to treat mild, moderate and advanced gum disease by first addressing the bacterial infection at the root of the problem, providing periodontal treatment, then providing information and education on good oral hygiene and the effective cleaning of the teeth.

The most common conditions treated by the periodontist are:

Gingivitis – This is the mild inflammation of the gums which may or may not be signified by pain and bleeding.

Mild/moderate periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues are measured to be between 4-6mm it is classified as moderate periodontitis (gum disease).

Advanced periodontitis – When the pockets between the teeth and the soft tissues in general exceed 6mm in depth, significant bone loss may occur; causing shifting or loss of teeth.

Missing teeth – When teeth are missing as a result of bone loss, the periodontist can implant prosthetic teeth. These teeth are anchored to the jawbone and restore functionality to the mouth.

Treatments Performed by a Periodontist

The periodontist is able to perform a wide range of treatments to halt the progression of gum disease, replace missing teeth and make the appearance of the smile more aesthetically pleasing.

Here are some of the treatments commonly performed by the periodontist:

Implant placement – When a tooth or several teeth are missing, the periodontist is able to create a natural-looking replacement by anchoring a prosthetic tooth to the jawbone.

Osteoplasty (hard tissue recontouring) – Once periodontitis has been treated, the periodontist can recontour the hard tissue to make the smile both natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing.

Gingivoplasty (soft tissue recontouring) – As gums recede due to periodontitis, the teeth may appear longer; causing a “toothy" smile. The periodontist can remove tissues or straighten the gum line to make the teeth look more even.

Bone grafting – Dental implants can only be positioned if there is sufficient bone to attach the prosthetic tooth to. If bone loss has occurred, bone grafting is an excellent way to add or “grow” bone so that an implant may be properly secured.

Deep pocket cleanings – As gingivitis and periodontitis progress, it becomes more difficult to cleanse the pockets between the soft tissues and the teeth. The periodontist can scale and root plane the teeth (sometimes under local anesthetic) to remove debris and infection-causing bacteria.

Crown lengthening – In order to expose more of the natural tooth, the periodontist can remove some of the surrounding gingival tissue.

The periodontist is a highly skilled dental health professional who is able to diagnose and treat many commonly occurring soft tissue and bone problems in the oral cavity.

Be sure to ask your periodontist if you have any questions or concerns.

Testimonials

I have been seeing Dr. Porcu since I was a teenager. I am now 40 years old with a child of my own. He is always very thorough, explains all the options to me, from a simple filling, to an impression for a mouth guard, etc...He lets me know all of my options. He is very caring, and the work he has done has lasted all of these years without having to be replaced, etc... so the quality is good! I took my son there for his first visit at 3 years of age. Dr. Porcu put me in the chair with my son on my lap and examined him. Later, when my son needed a cavity filled at 6 years of age, Dr. Porcu, with his excellent chair-side manner, put my son at ease...so much so that my son never cried or even called out to me during his novacaine shot or the drilling, etc... I was so impressed! I have seen pictures of other dentists offices that cater to children, with all the games and decorations, etc... but I wonder why one would need all that from the moment that the Dentist himself puts the kids at ease...with his calm demeanor, and the way he speaks to them. I am truly very happy with Dr. Porcu, and his staff (the cleanings twice a year performed by his awesome hygienist) that I recommend him to all my friends and family.

Anastasia Damian
Melville, NY

Dear Dr. Porcu, Just a short thank you to your and your staff. During my tooth "emergency" you and your team made me feel so comfortable. While my anxiety level was so high, you and Lina quickly diagnosed my problem, promptly took care of the pain, kept me calm and acted respectfully and professionally but at the same time treated me like family!! The work that you perform Dr. Porcu is always top of the line and the care and concern of those who were in the office that day and the days for my follow-ups are exemplary. Thank you Dr. Porcu, Lina, Nicole and Margaret. Warm Regards.